STORRS -- When Tiffany Hayes made her way from the comfort of her Lakeland, Fla., home to the basketball fishbowl in Storrs, she had no sense of just how her four years at UConn would unfold.

There was no way of predicting the joy she would feel as an integral part of undefeated national championship teams during her freshman and sophomore seasons or the sorrow in not being able to help the Huskies secure a third straight national title last season.

Certainly she didn't think about having a chance to leave as the winningest player in NCAA women's basketball history -- something that will happen if she stays healthy and the Huskies win the rest of their games.

The idea that she has a chance to join Svetlana Abrosimova, Renee Montgomery and Maya Moore as the only players to finish in the top 10 in scoring, assists and steals on UConn's career charts seemed like a far-off dream.

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When UConn plays its final game of the season at Gampel Pavilion against St. John's Saturday (7 p.m., CPTV), Hayes will be the only player honored during what promises to be an emotional Senior Night. UConn will also be going after its 100th straight home win.

So just what was Hayes thinking of as she was preparing to embark on a magical four-year run with the Huskies?

"Doing what the team needs me to do, helping out in whatever (way), being a sixth man ...," Hayes said. "I was never the type to just give up or give up my position. Once I got that chance to be in the starting lineup, I wasn't going to give it up. I kept working hard and here we are."

Yes, here we are.

Hayes currently is 12th in UConn history with 1,655 points, 450 assists and 195 steals. She is tied for fifth with 387 free throws made, seventh with 4,007 minutes played and tied for 10th with 142 games played.

However, the gaudy numbers will not be how her teammates will remember her.

"When she leaves, I am really going to remember this year specifically," UConn junior forward Kelly Faris said. "I have been here going on three years now, and from last year to this year, she has done a (180 degree turnaround). I think she has changed her mentality, and I think that is the kind of stuff that people may not recognize.

"I think she has realized that 'I am senior now and I have to set the example every single day.' It is not easy to come out here and do the right thing on every play, every possession for three hours, four hours. She was like 'OK, I am at the point, it is my senior year, and I'm the only one. I have all these young guys out there, and I have to be that one, I have to set that example.'"

When UConn coach Geno Auriemma went to see Hayes play when she was a star at Winter Haven (Fla.), he made it clear that she had a scholarship offer waiting for her. Hayes, in turn, reciprocated by letting him know she would be accepting. Since arriving at UConn, Hayes has continued to be a low-maintenance, no-frills cornerstone of the UConn program.

When Auriemma thinks about Hayes' time in Storrs, no one thing comes to mind.

"I think when we look back, we realize that she is one of the most consistent and best players that has played at Connecticut. When you look at the impact that she has had every year, since freshman year she has had an impact on our team and not very many people can say that. She was instrumental of winning the national championship as a freshman, she was instrumental of winning the national championship as a sophomore, she was instrumental in getting us to the Final Four last year and she has been the player that has done the most for us up to this point right now. You'd be hard-pressed to find somebody who has accomplished more in her four years whose name isn't on that (Huskies of Honor) wall."

Hayes came to UConn as part of a highly-touted four-player class. Elena Delle Donne lasted two days during the summer before citing homesickness and leaving. She has played the last three seasons at Delaware and scored her 2,000th career point on Thursday. Caroline Doty and Heather Buck have dealt with injuries and illness since arriving at UConn and will be returning next season. That leaves Hayes as the lone member of UConn's Class of 2012.

"I am going to try to keep it (her emotions) to a minimum. Of course it is going to be an emotional night but at the same time it is St. John's and they are No. 3 in league," Hayes said. "After all the emotions, you have to come out with your head on straight."